Built up a Specialized Pitch in early 2012, and got either a 2011 or 2012 Sektor RL 150mm coil with 15mm thru-axle on mavic en321 wheels and maxxis High Roller 2.35 tires. I really can't complain, it just does its job, and no issues after more than a year of hard riding. I'm an older all-mountain rider, so I'm probably not beating the absolute hell out of this that younger riders would be. But I've taken the bike and fork on two days of Northstar, and ride 3-5 times a week on Bay Area trails (JM Park, Demo, Skeggs, etc), and no leakage or issues and I get full travel and no harshness - and I'm on the wrong side of 2 bills weight-wise, so its carrying a load. It may not be quite as "magic carpet ride-like" as I've had on a blur lt/talas demo, but it's pretty damn close. And I paid something ridiculously low for it - something like $250 or $275. For sheer value and reliability, this fork has been gold.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Johnny RC
a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: September 28, 2012

Strengths: Plush, predictable linear travel. The Coil felt way better than air to my Clyde self. No air pressure to mess with. Very stiff axle (15mm).

I bought this fork as it fit in my budget, but still had a lot of the features I wanted. (for the 150mm coil version) It is a great value in that respect. I am an all mountain rider, and this handled my enduro type rides, and the back country epics. It was easy to dial in, and there were no changes once set. I rode this for a little over a year, HARD, and then there was some front/back give in it. Figured the bushings were worn out, so took it to LBS for service. They took apart, then called me, as apparently the bushings are a part of some other innards, and it would have been $240 to replace them. That's 1/2 the cost of the fork new! It makes sense, as when I searched online, I could not find service kits for the sektor, nor any bushings. This was a disappointment as I loved everything else about the fork. I had the seals and oil changed, and it felt way better than it did, but still not like new. I eventually upgraded to a Lyrik coil, which I'm very happy with, and IS serviceable. I would say if you weigh in around 150lbs, and aren't the total bomber, this fork will last you a LONG time, and be a good value, but if you ride HARD, and are 180+, I'd say save up for something else like a revelation or a lyrik, as they're serviceable, and the lyrik is beefier at 35mm stanchions vs the 32mm of the sektor. And overall, I guess I really can't complain as I got about 2 years of hard riding out of the fork, and paid half the cost of some other forks.

Weaknesses: Heavier than an air fork. Needs a large press through the handlebars to switch travel modes - lighter or weaker riders may have trouble.

Bottom Line:

My Fox F120 was leaking and worn from a few years of under-serviced abuse. Full travel was hard to achieve and larger hits were very harsh.
After a lot of research, the best bang-for-buck replacement I could find was the Sektor.
I bought the dual-position coil model, which switches between 110mm and 140mm travel, with the 9mm dropouts and 1,1/8" headtube. I really enjoy riding with this fork. The adjustable travel makes for an extremely versatile bike. The compression damping can be adjusted from bouncy to locked out. At high compression settings this fork will handle some solid drops without flinching. Rockshox excellent sag guide makes for foolproof setup. Full travel can be reached, without harsh bottom-out, unlike my old F120 which never reached full travel unless there was nowhere near enough air pressure.
Overall - The Sektor DPC is serious value for money, and can make any trail bike more versatile.

Strengths: easy to adjust, easy to install. smooth over the the hard stuff and plush on the singletracks. PRICE!!! this shok rocks!

Weaknesses: its not a(ferrari) ie. fox shock. so if you just want 2 spend mony and look kool forget it.

Bottom Line:

IF you dont want to spend and arm and a leg for forks this is it. superior quality and performance without the out of control price. I have an entry level mtb. with stock rst 80mm forks (garbage). its night and day difference. Now I roll with my full suspension buddy's without the 5k cost. I am 250lb this shock cares less. other reviews suggest to change the spring for bigger riders. NOPE ! buy it, leave it and RIDE the crap out of it. ITS JUST THAT SIMPLE! ENJOY I am.

Weaknesses: Every other biker who doesn't have one will cower before you on the trails.

Bottom Line:

Amazing fork, best I've ever ridden or demoed. I highly recommend this fork to anyone doing XC or AM riding, absorbs small bumps like they don't even exist and you will find it quite difficult to bottom out unless your doing some next-level downhill or dirt jumping. Super smooth tracking and can adjust from 100-140 mm on the coil u-turn model. This makes it perfect to adjust to the trail conditions. At only about 4 or 500 bucks it performs great. I weigh 145 and that puts the fork at about 10-15 percent sag, so depending on your weight you may want to change the spring.

The best fork for the money! I spent many hours researching and running to bike shops around town looking for the best product with the most movement and controls for the best price. Before looking at the really "high end" forks with the same 140mm travel and controls, take a good look at this one. You won't be sorry! Excellent Product, Rock Shox!

Bottom line is that for the price this is an outstanding coil fork. It's light, has minimal controls, works well, and U-turn is super smooth. It's stiff and tracks well.

Sektor has unbelievable small bump compliance and has taken 4 ft drops w/out hesitation. Feels like the Pike, but has more travel, and it's .5lbs lighter! Feels better than the Rev, in both small and large bumps, but the Rev is lighter.

Super happy with the fork and it's been super reliable so far, despite me beating the snot out of it.

Stock spring is great for 160-180lb rider. Rider wt heavier or lighter, go with another spring.

Strengths: Hits a price point that bridges the gap between entry level forks with things like steel uppers, and overpriced forks with things like "terra-logic"

100-140 adjustable travel is nice. takes 4 foot drops fine, and has good small bump sensitivity.

finish still looks new after 3 months of riding in Florida. its rocky, rooty, and has lots of things to scuff a fork on, but its holding up well. We will see after a summer of riding in Colorado. I have a feeling that it will be even better on rolling single track, than on florida trails with giant roots and short 45*-50* climbs.

its a perfect fork for the actual mountain biker who doesn't want to have a bike that is worth more than his car.

Weaknesses: not entirely adjustable (coil version), its not the most "bling" fork in the world. compression knob has 6 clicks but seemingly 2 real positions. Plush, and Too Stiff (and locked out if you want to count that)

Bottom Line:

A great fork for the money. Sure, it isn't as advanced or flashy as a Fox or a SID, and isn't made of carbon fiber woven from God's pubic hair, but it works damn near as well.

i Found with my previous 2 Fox forks, I was constantly fiddling with all the little knobs. it was fUn at first, but becomes a distraction later. i would find myself wanting to stop riding to adjust some knob. the forks themselves were great, but honestly at $700 for the cheapest fox, not really worth the extra cash. Sure, if you compete, or are an international banker/mountain biker, go for it.

With the Sektor, it is plenty adjustable, but seems to adapt well without minuscule adjustments.

if you want to build a well specced bike that performs well under what 95% of recreational mountain biking includes, but not take out a second mortgage. then the Sektor should be on your short list.

Disclaimer: I weigh 145 With overnight gear, food and water, so more like 135 on a normal ride, so keep that in mind when I say it handles 4 ft drops fine. the issue with the compression might have something to do with my weight?? if you weigh 215, then i cant speak for you.

Strengths: Sektor RL 110-150 coil U-turn. It just works. I don't ever have to worry about it. This was bought after having a PIKE 454 Coil and the extra 10mm of travel is noticed. I can lock it out and drop it down for climbing and then wind it out and reduce compression and fly down the singletrack. For the price and what it is it EATS up moderate rock gardens. I can screw up a line and it doesn't buck me.

Weaknesses: I would prefer a 2-step style drop, because I only use it wide open or wound down. Tiny gripe. For my budget it beats the hell out of paying $900 for a Fox 32. Plus you can't get a 20mm axle in a Fox 32 anymore. Also the U-turn has dived about 5 mm beyond the 110 markings on the stanchions, but no loss of performance.

Mine are the sektor U-Turn coil (110-150mm)RL's with std (medium springs)20mm bolt through axle. I weight approx 80 kilo's & am 6'2" tall. They replaced RS Revelation 426 coils (90-130mm). The Revs were very good BUT these are in a totally different league. They should come with a warning "You need very powerful breaks - exceptional wheel package & tyres and be prepared to regularily check bike for loose bolts & change tyres pads accordingly BECAUSE these forks change everything. You will immediatly carve singletrack, rip downhills, even climb rocky sections MUCH easier therefore faster. Your mates will wonder what has happened where previosly you failed to clear sections now you are first & grinning like a lottery winner. If you are considering new front sus like well built easy to set up superb tracking rock gobbling suspension just buy them NOW. Buy them from www.tftuned.com talk to PAUL & get GREAT service to boot.

Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Bomber RV, 04 Junior T-(The plushness of the sektor and Jr.T feel the same to me)

Bike Setup: Custom to the nuts Ibex Ignition.

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Value Rating:

Submitted by
4barlinkage
a Cross Country Rider
from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Date Reviewed: February 28, 2011

Strengths: Price to Weight ratio, Stiffness, Responsiveness

Weaknesses: None so far... Could have a bottom out adjustment, but that would push up the price.

Bottom Line:

Great performance at a reasonable weight and price. I weigh 70kg's(154pounds) and the standard coil is great for aggressive trail riding and light dirt jumping so far... I do lots of rocky, dry and technical riding. May start getting flexy for riders over 90kg(200pounds) due to the 32mm stations and length of the stations outside the fork lowers(leverage).

Strengths: Stiff, powerful, gives you an incredible confidence to encourage new challenges. Almost as light as my Rev 426. I don't notice any differences in weight, actually!

Weaknesses: the plastic inside

Bottom Line:

Not yet my last word about this fork, but my very first impression was how sweet is the plush feeling with this suspension. It is just like a dream. You feel the big hits as small hits, and the small hits... well, those doesn't exist anymore. I stopped several times to check if my tire was flat, but nope!!

Great job Rock Shox. Your next job is to replace all those pieces with plastic insertions (especially the ones used for the rebound adjustment) that sooner or later dies.